Votes and ProceedingsMonday 25 March 2019

No. 276

The House met at 2.30 pm.

Prayers

1Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence

2Statement: European Council (The Prime Minister)

3Business of the House (Today)

Ordered, That, at this day’s sitting, the Speaker shall put the questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on the motion in the name of the Prime Minister tabled under section 13 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 not later than 10.00pm; such questions shall include the questions on any amendments selected by the Speaker which may then be moved; the questions may be put after the moment of interruption; and Standing Order No. 16 (Proceedings under an Act or on European Union documents) and Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions) shall not apply.—(Michelle Donelan.)

4Section 13 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018

Motion made and Question proposed, That this House, in accordance with the provisions of section 13(6)(a) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, has considered the Written Statement titled "Statement under Section 13(4) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018" and made on Friday 15 March 2019.—(Mr David Lidington.)

Amendment (a) moved, at end, add “and, given the need for the House to debate and vote on alternative ways forward, with a view to the Government putting forward a plan for the House to debate and vote on, orders that –

(a) Standing Order No. 14(1) (which provides that government business shall have precedence at every sitting save as provided in that order) shall not apply on Wednesday 27 March;

(b) precedence on that day shall be given to a motion relating to the Business of the House in connection with matters relating to the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union other than any Business of the House motion relating to the consideration by the House of a motion under Section 13(1)(b) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, and then to motions relating to that withdrawal and the United Kingdom’s future relationship with the European Union other than any motion moved under Section 13(1)(b) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018;

(c) if more than one motion related to the Business of the House is tabled, the Speaker shall decide which motion shall have precedence;

(d) the Speaker shall interrupt proceedings on any business before the Business of the House motion having precedence at 2.00 pm on Wednesday 27 March and call a Member to move that motion;

(e) debate on that motion may continue until 3.00 pm on Wednesday 27 March at which time the Speaker shall put the questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on the motion including the questions on amendments selected by the Speaker which may then be moved;

(f) when those proceedings have been concluded, the Speaker shall call a Member to move one of the other motions having precedence;

(g) any proceedings interrupted or superseded by this order or an order arising from the Business of the House motion may be resumed or (as the case may be) entered upon and proceeded with after the moment of interruption on Wednesday 27 March.".—(Sir Oliver Letwin.)

Question put, That the Amendment be made.

The House divided.

Division No. 373

Ayes: 329 (Tellers: Jeff Smith, Colleen Fletcher)

Noes: 302 (Tellers: Michelle Donelan, Jo Churchill)

Question accordingly agreed to.

As it was after 10.00 pm, the Speaker put the Questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on the motion relating to the UK's withdrawal from the EU (Order, today).

Amendment (f) moved, At end, add “and orders that, in the event that the UK comes within seven calendar days of leaving the European Union without a deal, the Government must make arrangements within two sitting days, or if this House has been adjourned for more than four days to arrange for the House to be recalled under Standing Order No. 13 (Earlier meeting of the House in certain circumstances) for this purpose, for a Minister of the Crown to move a motion on whether this House approves the UK leaving the EU without a deal and on whether the UK Government should be required to request an extension of the period in Article 50(3) of the Treaty on European Union in order to avoid a no-deal Brexit and to give time for Parliament to determine a different approach.”.—(Margaret Beckett.)

Question put forthwith, That the Amendment be made.

The House divided.

Division No. 374

Ayes: 311 (Tellers: Colleen Fletcher, Jeff Smith)

Noes: 314 (Tellers: Michelle Donelan, Jo Churchill)

Question accordingly negatived.

Main Question, as amended, put forthwith.

The House divided.

Division No. 375

Ayes: 327 (Tellers: Colleen Fletcher, Jeff Smith)

Noes: 300 (Tellers: Michelle Donelan, Jo Churchill)

Question accordingly agreed to.

Resolved, That this House, in accordance with the provisions of section 13(6)(a) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, has considered the Written Statement titled "Statement under Section 13(4) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018" and made on Friday 15 March 2019 and, given the need for the House to debate and vote on alternative ways forward, with a view to the Government putting forward a plan for the House to debate and vote on, orders that –

(a) Standing Order No. 14(1) (which provides that government business shall have precedence at every sitting save as provided in that order) shall not apply on Wednesday 27 March;

(b) precedence on that day shall be given to a motion relating to the Business of the House in connection with matters relating to the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union other than any Business of the House motion relating to the consideration by the House of a motion under Section 13(1)(b) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, and then to motions relating to that withdrawal and the United Kingdom’s future relationship with the European Union other than any motion moved under Section 13(1)(b) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018;

(c) if more than one motion related to the Business of the House is tabled, the Speaker shall decide which motion shall have precedence;

(d) the Speaker shall interrupt proceedings on any business before the Business of the House motion having precedence at 2.00 pm on Wednesday 27 March and call a Member to move that motion;

(e) debate on that motion may continue until 3.00 pm on Wednesday 27 March at which time the Speaker shall put the questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on the motion including the questions on amendments selected by the Speaker which may then be moved;

(f) when those proceedings have been concluded, the Speaker shall call a Member to move one of the other motions having precedence;

(g) any proceedings interrupted or superseded by this order or an order arising from the Business of the House motion may be resumed or (as the case may be) entered upon and proceeded with after the moment of interruption on Wednesday 27 March.

5Statutory Instruments: Motions for Approval

(1) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Social Security Coordination (Regulation (EC) No. 987/2009) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, which were laid before this House on 30 January, be approved.—(Mike Freer.)

Question agreed to.

(2) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Social Security Coordination (Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1408/71 and Council Regulation (EC) No. 859/2003) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, which were laid before this House on 30 January, be approved.—(Mike Freer.)

Question agreed to.

(3) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Social Security Coordination (Council Regulation (EEC) No. 574/72) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, which were laid before this House on 30 January, be approved.—(Mike Freer.)

Question agreed to.

(4) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Social Security Coordination (Regulation (EC) No. 883/2004, EEA Agreement and Swiss Agreement) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, which were laid before this House on 30 January, be approved.—(Mike Freer.)

Question agreed to.

(5) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Electronic Commerce and Solvency 2 (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, which were laid before this House on 25 February, be approved.—(Mike Freer.)

Question agreed to.

(6) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Food and Drink, Veterinary Medicines and Residues (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, which were laid before this House on 13 February, be approved.—(Mike Freer.)

Question agreed to.

(7) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft International Accounting Standards and European Public Limited-Liability Company (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, which were laid before this House on 31 January, be approved.—(Mike Freer.)

Question agreed to.

(8) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Zoonotic Disease Eradication and Control (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, which were laid before this House on 14 February, be approved.—(Mike Freer.)

Question agreed to.

(9) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft European Structural and Investment Funds Common Provisions (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, which were laid before this House on 12 February, be approved.—(Mike Freer.)

Question agreed to.

(10) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft European Structural and Investment Funds Common Provisions Rules etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, which were laid before this House on 12 February, be approved.—(Mike Freer.)

Question agreed to.

(11) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Rural Development (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, which were laid before this House on 13 February, be approved.—(Mike Freer.)

The Speaker’s opinion as to the decision of the Question was challenged.

Division deferred until Wednesday 27 March (Standing Order No. 41A).

(12) Motion made and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)), That the draft Rural Development (Rules and Decisions) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, which were laid before this House on 13 February, be approved.—(Mike Freer.)

The Speaker’s opinion as to the decision of the Question was challenged.

Division deferred until Wednesday 27 March (Standing Order No. 41A).

6Changes to membership of select committees

Ordered, That Catherine West be discharged from the International Trade Committee and Owen Smith be added.—(Bill Wiggin, on behalf of the Selection Committee.)